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World Peace suspended, Howard out for Lakers

The Associated Press

Posted:
02/05/2013 11:20:40 AM MST

NEW YORK—Forward Metta World Peace was suspended for one game because he hit Detroit's Brandon Knight in the face, and the Los Angeles Lakers also were again without Dwight Howard when they faced the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

World Peace grabbed Knight around the neck and struck him in the jaw with the knuckles of his mostly open hand on Sunday with 1:43 left in the first half of the Lakers' 98-97 win over the Pistons.

Howard missed that game with a sore right shoulder that remains painful. He said after the Lakers' morning shootaround that he would miss his third straight game.

Pau Gasol will start at center in Howard's place and Antawn Jamison was inserted into World Peace's starting forward spot.

The former Ron Artest was also suspended seven games in April after an elbow to the head of Oklahoma City's James Harden. He is notorious for his 86-game suspension in 2004 for his role in the brawl with Pistons fans in Detroit.

World Peace also served a seven-game suspension in 2007 for his no-contest plea on a domestic violence charge.